Global Rallycross: Speed takes Race 1 in Los Angeles

Scott Speed converted a nearly flawless set of qualifying rounds into his third victory of the 2014 Red Bull Global Rallycross season in Saturday's Red Bull GRC Los Angeles main event, held at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, CA. Speed, the series' only multiple winner in the Supercar class this year, won all three of his heats and held off a hard-charging Joni Wiman and Ken Block for the victory.

"So far this Polo has been quite reliable," said Speed, who used teammate Tanner Foust's former car as Foust debuted the VW team's new Beetle in the event. "We've had no problems so far this weekend. Hopefully that continues for the rest of the races, and for sure that will give us a shot at the championship."

The result, combined with Nelson Piquet Jr.'s failure to advance to a main event for the first time this season, greatly scrambled the championship standings. Block and Piquet are tied for the Supercar lead, with Block's win in Charlotte the tiebreaker, while Speed is within two points and Wiman only 10 off of the lead.

"It's been a fun championship so far—I've had a good run lately," said Block, whose four consecutive podiums is the longest active streak in the class. "I'm really bummed for Nelson, that's not a good way to get knocked off the top step.

"But it's been tough racing with these guys, we've all been battling really hard. We all got some good points, and now it tightens everything up and makes everything real interesting going into the final three races."

Foust's debut in the Beetle was cut short after eight of 10 laps in the final, when he pulled the car to a halt with smoke billowing from the engine bay. Meanwhile, the return of Travis Pastrana saw him take a heat victory on Friday, followed by a sixth place finish.

In GRC Lites, Kevin Eriksson took advantage of a fantastic start to earn his second victory of the season, holding off championship leader and Olsbergs MSE teammate Mitchell DeJong. Kevin Hansen, making his debut in the United States after winning the Swedish championship earlier this month, rounded out the podium.

Red Bull Global Rallycross Los Angeles continues Sunday with another full round of points-paying events. Gates open at 8 a.m. PT with a full day of racing, concluding with the Supercar final at 2 p.m.